Home insurance: in case of purchase or sale of a home

Verified 11 March 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

When a home is sold, the home insurance contract is automatically transferred from the seller to the buyer. This prevents the home from remaining uninsured, even for a short period of time. But the buyer and the insurer have the possibility to cancel the transferred contract after the sale. The cancelation and transfer rules apply to you regardless of your nationality and regardless of the length of your stay in France.

You're selling your home

If you have purchased home insurance for your home and sell it, the contract will automatically be transferred to the buyer.

In order for your insurer to no longer claim premiums for the contract, you must notify the insurer of the sale by registered letter or electronic registered mail.

If you don't, you'll have to continue paying insurance premiums for housing.

The insurer may terminate the contract within 3 months of the day on which you informed the insurer of the sale and transfer of the contract to the buyer.

After this period, he loses the right of termination for the reason related to the change of situation.

To terminate the contract, the insurer must inform the purchaser by registered letter with notice of receipt or by electronic registered mail of its decision.

Termination will then occur 10 calendar days after notification of the registered letter to the purchaser.

The new owner to whom the insurance contract has been transferred may also terminate the contract.

He must inform the insurer of his decision by registered letter with notice of receipt or by registered electronic mail.

You're buying a house

As the purchaser, you must verify that the property is insured on the day of the transfer of ownership.

If the property is insured, the insurance contract must be automatically transferred to you at the time of sale. You will then have to pay the contributions.

If you do not wish to keep this contract, you must notify the seller's insurer as soon as possible by registered letter with notice of receipt or by electronic registered mail.

Then you can to take out new insurance with the company of your choice.

As a general rule, the deed of sale of the property informs you of the automatic transmission of the insurance contract and the possibility to terminate it.

The seller's insurer may also terminate the contract within 3 months of the day the contract was automatically transferred to you.

After this period, he loses the right of termination for the reason related to the change of situation.

To terminate the contract, the insurer must inform you by registered letter with notice of receipt or by electronic registered mail of its decision.

Termination will then occur 10 calendar days after notification of the registered letter to the purchaser.

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